Kim Yong-nam visits KRB

BOGOR: As part of his official visit to Indonesia, South Korean President Kim Yong-nam toured Bogor Botanical Gardens (KRB) to have a close look at the Dendrobium Kim Il-sung orchid, named after his predecessor, who received the species of orchid from then Indonesian President Sukarno in 1965.

According to garden spokesperson Sugiarti, Kim Il-sung was the prime minister when he met with Sukarno.

"The Dendrobium Kim Il-sung species was discovered by an Indonesian botanist from Makassar, South Sulawesi. The newly found species had not yet been named when Kim Il-sung visited the garden," she said.

However, the orchid was flown to South Korea only ten years after the two heads of state met. "In 1981 the new species of orchid was registered at the London botanical body with its official name Dendrobium Kim Il-sung," Sugiarti explained.

The Bogor Botanical Garden now has 95 Dendrobium Kim Il-sung orchid plants.

President Kim Yong-nam, accompanied by Indonesian State Minister for Information and Telecommunications Syamsul Muarif, West Java Deputy Governor Dana Sudarna and Bogor Mayor H.R. Iswara Natanegara, also visited the Bogor Presidential Palace. --JP